Cell.



W. HOPPIE.

CELL.

APPLICATION FiLED JUNE 1. I915.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

TED STATES r union.

'WILLIAM Horns, or LAWNDALE, CALIFORNIA.

CELL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pate ted J n, 25, 1916 Application filed June 1915. Serial No. 31,550.

ments in that type of galvanic cells commonly known as dry cells, and it is an object of my invention to provide a device of this general character having novel and improved means whereby the deterioration of the cell during its shelf life or during the period before'it is .put into active service is prevented, and furthermore to prevent deterioration during long periods of inactivity after being placed in use.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and ar- 'dered simpler,

rangement of the several parts of my 1mproved device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is renless expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is disclosed a longitudinal sectional view of a cell constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

As disclosed in the accompanying draw ings, 1 is a negative electrode provided with a binding post 2 which constitutes one of the terminals of the battery. The container 3, as herein embodied, is made of zinc and constitutes the positive electrode: To this zinc container the binding post 4 is attached to provide the second terminal-of the battery. Within the Zinc container 3 is a bibulous or porous lining 5 which serves the well known purpose of, preventing the battery mix 6 which is packed in the lined container from known compositions.

coming in contact with the zinc container and also. serves as a reservoir forv the electrolyte. The mix may be of any of the well The cell i sY- sealed in the usual mannerb a covering 7 which prevents any deterioration from the' iaction of the atmosphere and external sources and also makes the cell impervious to water.

After a dry cell has been standing for as short a time as one or two months, tests will show that the short circuit current of the cell has decreased and a general deterioration soon follows. After a certain time the cell may become practically useless from merely standing on the shelves awaiting sale and without any use whatever. This is in part due to the drying out of the electrolyte thereby causing a crystalline deposit to be made on the inside of the metallic electrode which greatly increases the internal resist- I ance and causes the cell to deteriorate, and

in part due to local action between the zinc or other metal electrode and the mix, whereby the-electrode is eaten away. To prevent this fault duringthe unavoidable period in which a cell is not in use is the purpose of my invention, and the way in which the result is accomplished is as follows. been found advantageous to use dry powdery material such as flour in dry cells of both the wet and dry lining type. In the wet lining type, the flour is incorporated in the cell in form of a paste. In the dry lining type, it has been the practice to moisten the inside of the zinc can with water and dust the dry zinc. Zinc will not thoroughly wet with water butacts toward it much in the same way that an oily surface will; 2'. 6., the water instead of spreading evenly over the surface of the zinc collects in small patches. The result of this is that when flour is dusted around the inside of the can, it adheres in flour in it so that it adheres to the.

n has other powdery material may be applied to v the inner surface of the zinc container by first coating it with an organic or carbohydrate syrup, such as glucose in solution. The use of an organic or carbohydrate s; rup provides a very convenient manner of applying the powdery material uniformly to the zinc container and, in addition, 'I obtain the advantages of a low internal resistance, a

more active surface of the zinc exposed to the electrolyte by such lower resistance, and a noncrystallizable coating on the zinc-surface that, is more absorbable of the electrolyte. Y 7

My invention is not limited to dry cells-of the dry lining type, as it will be self-evident thatmy invention can be employed with equal facility in connection with a cell of the wet lining type. Furthermore, it isnot believed necessary to specifically set 'forth the manner whereby the organic or carbohydrate syrup 1s applied to the zlnc surface in the case of a dry lining or a wet lining.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a cell constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and pensive, nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which 'it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as and shown in carrying out my invention in prac electrodes consisting comparatively inex- Q Witnesses limiting myself to the precise arrangement formation of the several parts herein tice.

Iclaimr' I 1. In a dry cell, coating for one of the of a mixture of an orgame syrup and a powdery material.

' a dry cell, coating for one of the electrodes consisting of a mixture of a carbohydrate syrup anda powdery material.

3. In a dry cell, coating for one of the electrodes consisting of a mixture ofglucose and a powdery material.

4. The process of coating a dry cell art which consists in applying a layer 0% an organic syrup thereto and then adding a dry powder to such applied layer.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presenceof two witnesses.

Lnman Moment, I MAmoN WQBnssom. I

"WILLIAM HOPPIE. 1 

